The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-06


of God, How little did that proud heather
world. how little did imperial Rome. throned In
her golden palaces, amusing herself in her
bloody amphitheaters, dream that she nourisned
within her bosom mghtier than herself, a
weakness that would be stronger than all her
strength. n fooshness which would be wiser
than all her wisdom, a patience which would
worry out all her cruelty, love which should
vaEduish all her hate. To seeing but as
man sees. where was there ever
strength, a spiendor glory ike hers.
the fourth beast which Daniel saw, dread
full and TERRIBLE ana strong exceedingly,
whose iron teeth had broken in pieces all the
kingdoms of the earth. and stamping the
residue of them beneath its feet? And where on
the other hand, a weakness like theirs, who,
in the judgment of one Of the wisest and most
tolerant among the heathen were only the vota-
ries of AN exaggerated and detestable superstl-
tion, followers of one Jesus, which was dead
whom. somewhere in Syria, Roman governor
had once put to DEATH but whom these obsti-
nate and perverse enthusiasts affirmed to be
still aliver But notwithstanding all the difficult
ties both in the earlier and later centuries with
which it has had to contend, Still the religion or
Christ grew on and on. until now the power
welded by Christion nations is the miChtIest
power on earth, and until the influence of Jesus
is felt in every part of the habitabe globe. Yes,
yes, Gods kingdom is coming. it is coming! But
surely hearts desire and prayer to God is,
that it may come more quickly and with greater
power than hitherto. 1t is surely wish and
our prayer that Christ may reign in every heart,
that all strife, aud discord, and enmity
NAV cease: that wars r;.o and rumors runners OF
that brotherly love everywhere be-
manifest. that vice may hide it's head and virtue
everywhere be seen, that error may be over
thrown and truth be established, that tyranny
of every kind may be banshed from the earth,
that honesty and fair dealing may be character
istic of all business transactions between man
and man, and that pure and undefiled religion
may everywhere prevail And for all this, and
for more than this. we pray when, in sincerity
and IN truth. say, Thy kingdom come. We
most surely believe that
Jesus shall reign er the
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to Shore
Till moons shall and wane
s'But can we do anything to hasten the COM
ing of this kingdoml This ia practical ques-
ton, and We should all be interested in it That
great and holy man. Jonathan Edwards, tells
how he felt upon this subject Ia the Personal
Narration of His Youth he says L had great
longings for the advancement of Christ's king
dom in the world and my secret prayers used to
be in great part taken up with it IL heard
the least hint of anything that happened in any
part of tho world that appeared, in some respect
other, TO have favorable aspect in
the interests of Chrsts kingdom, my
soul eagerly catched at it, and it would much
animate and refresh me- / used to be eager to
read pu bile news letters mainly, for that end,
to see if could not find some news favorable TO
the interest of religion in the world
Now. we all say that was just right. TWAS
eminenty Christian. But how we in the
habit of acting in this rePard2 Do our prayers
for the coming Of Christs kingdom stimulate
to do anything toward that end. and if so. how
man having first put his hand to the plough, and
looking back is fit for the kingdom of God
That is to say, the children of the kingdom
should be consecrated persons. and they should
make the interests of Christs kingdom their
chief concern If we can preach the gospel with
our lips, that is one way in which we can pro-
mote the interests of the kingdom. The preach
ing Of the gospel has done great things already.
and it is destined to do still greater things. But
If some of US cannot preach this gospel with orr
lips, can all preach it by our lives Wo will
q n
gage in some Christian enterprise which has for
its object the winning of this world for
a goodIy example, so that it may be
known not only that we have made a good pro-
fessiou. but that we are living godly life.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven Blessed ara the pure in
heart, for they shall see God. And SO. if we
longing and praying for the coming of this King
dom, win be humble and pure, and meek,
and merciful, and long-suffering, and forgiving.
We will not be proud, or covetous, or hateful. or
revengeful, or worldly minded. We will try to
be as like Jesus Christ as possible. IL all
Christians were to act in this way, would it not
hasten the coming of the kingdoms
But the kingdom must be in us before
We in it, ard before do anything
really valuable towards its success. And are
not left in any doubt to what constitutes
membership In this kingdom. Except man be
horn again he cannot the kingdom of God.
Except ye be converted and become little
children ye can in wise enter into the king
dom of God. There shall in wise enter into it
anything that defeth, or that maketh abomlna-
ton, that maketh lie. It is possible. indeed,
for the unholy, and the impure and the deceit
full, and the hypocritical to secure membership
in the visible church, which is Chrisrs earthly
kingdom but from the kingdom of glory all such
will be rightsously excluded. Let us then, be
well assured that those who reject Christs Cos
pei or who falsely profess it. assume great re-
sponsibty. If. at last, they be excluded from
the kingdom they will only have themselves to
blame; for. notwithstanding their way wardness
and their wickedness. they may be sure of this,
that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto
them.
Dr. Marines Discourse Yesterday.